Next, an Antibiotic-Free Big Mac? (<em>Reuters</em>)

Advocacy group calls on McDonald's to remove antibiotics from beef, pork

The public health advocacy group U.S. PIRG Education Fund is calling on McDonald's to establish a timeline for phasing out the nonmedical use of antibiotics in its beef and pork products, according to Reuters.

In the U.S. alone, some 70% of all medically important antibiotics are used on farms, which is thought to contribute to the rise of antibiotic-resistant pathogens linked to more than 23,000 deaths annually.

Since 2016, McDonald's has been using chicken raised without antibiotics in the U.S., which has led its rivals and suppliers to follow suit. Removing antibiotics from the Big Mac could have a big effect on the misuse of antibiotics, said U.S. PIRG program director Matthew Wellington.

Accessibility Statement

At MedPage Today, we are committed to ensuring that individuals with disabilities can access all of the content offered by MedPage Today through our website and other properties. If you are having trouble accessing www.medpagetoday.com, MedPageToday's mobile apps, please email legal@ziffdavis.com for assistance. Please put "ADA Inquiry" in the subject line of your email.